LITERARY STYLE: Magical Realism
Activity 1: Take 8 minutes to read the text box below and answer the following questions.
Choose one of your group members to read for the group and a presenter to present the
information you’ve collected about magical realism.
1. What is magical realism?
Magical realism is a literary style that originated in South America that incorporates
fantastic elements into ordinary settings, treating them as normal within a realistic
context.
2. What is the goal behind using magical realism as a literary style?
The goal for literature written in the magical realism style is to show that
the seemingly solid and reasonable assumptions that underlie our
conventional view of reality are not always as solid and reasonable as they
seem.
3. What are the features or characteristics of magical realism?
• Characters who seem ordinary in seemingly ordinary situations
• Something being “off” about the situation
• Fantastic or strange events that intrude upon the situation
• Characters who seem unimpressed or undisturbed by fantastic events
Magical realism, as the name suggests, is a literary style that originated in
South America that incorporates fantastic elements into ordinary settings,
treating them as normal within a realistic context. Typically, the goal for
literature written in the magical realism style is to show that the seemingly
solid and reasonable assumptions that underlie our conventional view of
reality are not always as solid and reasonable as they seem.
Characteristics of magical realism include
• Characters who seem ordinary in seemingly ordinary situations
• Something being “off” about the situation
• Fantastic or strange events that intrude upon the situation
• Characters who seem unimpressed or undisturbed by fantastic events
ACTIVITY 2: Take 10 minutes to answer these questions about “House Taken Over.” Use
textual evidence from the story to support your responses.
1. How would you
describe the setting of “House Taken Over?” How does it match the magical
realism model?
In "House Taken Over", the setting of a large, old house by a brother and sister shifts
from ordinary to trauma as an unexplained presence gradually takes over their
space. This blend of the familiar and surreal of magical realism, highlighting
their struggle with an inexplicable reality that hunts their lives. The slow
transformation of the house creates a haunting atmosphere . That lets them lose
everything.
2. Does anything seem “off” about the two characters and their
relationship? Explain.
They share an unsettling relationship marked by deep isolation and
dependance, spending all their time in one room while passively accepting the
encroaching presence in their home, their detachment from reality is conveyed
by their reluctance to face their situation.
3. What is the first fantastic event that occurs?
The first fantastic event that occurs is the unexplained disappearance of the
kitchen. Basically, the siblings Irene and Enrique wake up one morning to find
that the kitchen has vanished, leaving only a gaping doorway.
4. What is the major fantastic event that occurs and how
do the characters respond?
The magic unknown matter takes over the whole house and so the narrator and his sister
Irene react indifferently to the situation and decide to completely abandon the
house.
5. What comment do the events in the story make on
modern life?
The events comment on modern life by pointing toward increasing alienation, isolation,
and passive surrender in modern society. And it also reveals key themes like
the fear of the unknown.
© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Exit Slip
If you were to choose a book of Gothic literature or one of magical
realism, which one would you choose? Why?
Sama: Gothic literature, because it gives us a peak of a gloomy setting and shares the
elements and features of how it would be if we as readers were in a haunted house or any
scary situation the gothic literature gives us that experience.
Ganna: I would choose magical realism because then i would get to see how my brain
reacts to fantastical elements that are literally being treated as normal and ordinary things.
I would also have the chance to challenge my brain into finding out what exactly are the
unreal elements that are being treated normally. Overall, magical realism literary just
sounds fun.
Faisal: Magical realism allows the imagination to run wild, gothic literature tries too hard
to be unnerving, which just ends up making it a chore to read through.
Jassim: Gothic literature because it gives a sense of suspense and fear with a final boom
that blows up in your face making the story much more interesting than magical realism
as it shows fantastical events where characters are indifferent to them.
© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.
